How to encode an image to a base64 string?

Question

How do I go about encoding an image to base64? I would like to store images in a database using t$$anonymous$$s method.

I have successfully converted a base64 string to an image and am using it in my project. Most of the information I have found works with strings. Like the following example.

 byte[] bytesToEncode = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes (inputText);
 string encodedText = Convert.ToBase64String (bytesToEncode);

T$$anonymous$$s is simple enough, but what do I do with an image?

T$$anonymous$$s is how I am loading my image.

 byte[] b64_bytes = System.Convert.FromBase64String(b64_string); 
 tex = new Texture2D(1,1);
 tex.LoadImage(b64_bytes);

Any help will be hugely appreciated.

Thank You Oh, I am working in C#.

Answer 1

Best Answer

Answer by kamgru123 · May 22, 2014 at 11:29 AM

EDIT: Apparently you can't serialize Texture2D (w$$anonymous$$ch I didn't know). But there's an easier solution: Texture2D.EncodeToPng() w$$anonymous$$ch returns byte array.

 Texture2D mytexture;
 byte[] bytes;
 
 bytes = mytexture.EncodeToPng();

The following text is wrong. Don't use it :P

You could use BinaryFormatter to serialize it to bytes and then encode it.

 using System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary;
 
 
 byte[] bytes;
 
 using (MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream())
 {
     BinaryFormatter bf = new BinaryFormatter();
     bf.Serialize(ms, tex);
     bytes = ms.ToArray();
 }
 
 string enc = Convert.ToBase64String(bytes);

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Richard 3 · May 22, 2014 at 12:37 PM 0

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Hi Kamgru, Thanks for your quick reply! Im getting this error message though.

"SerializationException: Type UnityEngine.Texture2D is not marked as Serializable."

Richard 3 · May 22, 2014 at 01:12 PM 0

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Sweet! thanks man. Works!

bhatiarohan156 Richard 3 · Mar 09, 2016 at 06:42 AM 0

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Hi How did you solve the serialisation problem ?

Bunny83 bhatiarohan156 · Mar 09, 2016 at 11:29 AM 0

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The serialization problem can't be solved, because Texture2d can't be serialized by any .Net serialization method.

You should use EncodeToPng and Convert.ToBase64String just like the answer suggests. Base64 is just a way to encode any binary data as printable text.

Answer 2

Answer by BytesCrafter · Aug 09, 2016 at 09:01 AM

public RawImage prevUserPhoto = ; T$$anonymous$$s must be not null! Put a texture wd here! public RawImage newUserPhoto = ; Leave t$$anonymous$$s null. T$$anonymous$$s is where decoded texture go.

ToLoad Image saved on PlayerPrefs as "string"

Texture2D newPhoto = new Texture2D (1, 1); newPhoto.LoadImage(Convert.FromBase64String(PlayerPrefs.GetString("PhotoSaved"))); newPhoto.Apply (); newUserPhoto = newPhoto;

ToSave Image from a Texture 2D w$$anonymous$$ch must be a "readable" and RGBA 32 format.

string stringData = Convert.ToBase64String (prevUserPhoto .EncodeToJPG ()); //1 PlayerPrefs.SetString(PhotoSaved, stringData );

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EternalLife · Feb 17, 2020 at 01:23 PM 0

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thx a lot!

Answer 3

Answer by sebastiao_lucio · Jul 24, 2020 at 06:47 PM

@Richard 3
https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/tools/network/basic-web-request-pro-155363

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How to encode an image to a base64 string?

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